No Self-Control
Walks Doom Cubs, Comeback Stalls in 8-7 Loss

Jerry Lai/US PRESSWIRE

Saturday, Casey Coleman gave a glimpse of a promising pitching future. Sunday, Jeff Samardzija did not. The Notre Dame alum allowed eight runs in 4 1/3 innings, walking seven and allowing seven hits. So that wasn't impressive, but there were some good signs in the last home game of the season: The Cubs rallied for seven runs to make it close after being down 8-0. Kosuke Fukudome and Brad Snyder each drove in two runs, while Bobby Scales drew three walks and scored two runs. Ummm... hooray?

ESPN Chicago: Cards' win prevents Reds from clinching [+ video]
CSN Chicago: With loss, Cubs close the curtains on Wrigley Field [+ video]
MLB: Cubs make it interesting but drop home finale [+ video]

State of the Union
Payroll Will Drop, New Manager Can Wait, Owner Says
Owner Tom Ricketts chatted with the press yesterday, and said a few things we probably could have guessed: Payroll will be "slightly lower" and the team is in no hurry to find the next manager. He also pointed out that the Cubs' minor-league teams had the second-best record of any franchise, so "there's no question we're heavily committed to player development." When it came to attendance, Ricketts noted the team broke the three million barrier for the seventh year in a row. That said, the team is looking at a new ticket-pricing strategy, he said.

SB Nation: No magic formula or shower of cash coming
ESPN Chicago: Tom Ricketts: No hurry to hire manager
CSN Chicago: Building toward future, Ricketts expects... [+ Ricketts video]

Defending Hendry
Why Does GM Still Have a Job After Awful Year?
Here's a question: Considering this season and that the Cubs haven't won a playoff game since 2003, why is Jim Hendry coming back? Ed Sherman asked Tom Ricketts that, and the owner said he visited the Cubs' minor league facilities and talked to the scouts and coaches and found a sound organization. "That's a recommendation for your general manager," Ricketts said. Asked whether next year was crucial for Hendry, Ricketts said, "I don't think there's one year any more important than any other year for Jim or anyone else."

Crain's: Ricketts interview: Reinforces confidence in Hendry; gives view on...

Walk This Way
Will Samardzija's Walks Damage His Career?
Hopes have been high for Jeff Samardzija since the Cubs drafted him in 2007 and signed him to a surprising $10 million deal (complete with no-trade clause). But except for some flashes, you'd have to label the Notre Damer a disappointment. Yesterday's seven free passes did nothing to help his chances for next year, ESPN's Bruce Levine says. "Control issues have plagued Samardzija all season, but in his previous two starts he'd avoided letting the base on balls come back to bite him. The same could not be said on Sunday," he says.

ESPN Chicago: Walks hurt Samardzija's case for starting
Daily Herald: Quade: Samardzija needs command

The Hair up There
A Look at Former Cub Dennis Lamp — and His Mustache
Let us take a trip back in time to the heady days of the mid-1970s, when the Bee Gees ruled the radio, S.W.A.T. was just about the most awesome show ever, and Dennis Lamp was getting lit up like a... ummm... lamp. The mustachioed hurler posted a whopping 6.30 ERA, then eventually worked his way up to 11 wins. Lamp was traded to the White Sox in 1981, where he was put in the bullpen and prospered. Kind of. But the point is, that mustache is still one for the ages.

Just One Bad Century: Great mustaches

Marlon Byrd will get a few more days rest to recover from taking a foul ball off the face... As part of a rookie hazing tradition, several rookies had their street clothes replaced with costumes, including Marcos Mateo as Cleopatra and Andrew Cashner as Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz"... Trust the Heckler to come up with an awesome angle for the Hendry/Sandberg interview.

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